The Austin Police Department will increase its focus on testing officers for COVID-19. As of October 7, frontline personnel will be tested for COVID-19 once per week.
“Until we get it to a point where we feel that we don’t need to test,” said APD Chief of Staff Troy Gay.
The testing is the result of a developing plan between the Austin Police Department and Austin Public Health, according to Gay.
Officials have said they only have a ballpark idea of how many officers within the department are currently vaccinated against coronavirus.
“We don’t know those that went to their private care physicians and have received vaccinations,” Gay said. “But just going through the Public Safety Wellness Center we’re right about 55 percent.”
The number of police officers who are said to be currently vaccinated has remained unchanged from back in August when Chief Joseph Chacon first estimated that between 50 and 60 percent had gotten two full doses.